Woody is coming.
Renowned sculptor Alan Cottrill reached out over the weekend to say he wants to complete our Pay It Forward project before the start of Ohio State's next football season, even though we haven't hit our full fundraising target yet.
That's right, a life-size statue of Woody Hayes is coming to the coach's hometown of Newcomerstown and it's all because of the generosity of Mr. Cottrill and and supporters like you!
Shake us. Is this real?
As you'll recall, Mr. Cottrill's past accomplishments include a Thomas Edison statue unveiled at the U.S. Capitol earlier this year and the Woody Hayes statue which welcomes visitors to Ohio State's indoor football practice facility, the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
While Mr. Cottrill generously agreed to complete the statue without a guarantee we'll hit our $40,000 target, we do want to keep pushing forward to meet or get as close to our goal as possible. As of this writing, we're right around the $23,000 mark.
We'll provide updates in the coming months on items such as a final donation tally and plans for the dedication and public unveiling.
For now, we ask that you consider giving to this project, if you haven't already. This is absolutely happening and it's your last chance to ensure the name of your family or business appears on the plaque next to the statue that will live in Newcomerstown forever.
Donations of any amount are welcomed.
While any monetary donation will be accepted and appreciated, we're also proud to announce donation tiers that come with varying levels of recognition:
- $100 Donation: You earn your spot in history with your name on the list of donors on elevenwarriors.com.
- $500 Donation: Your name, family name, or business name (max 30 characters) will go on the plaque next to the Hayes statue.
- $1,000 Donation: Your name, family name, or business name (max 30 characters) will appear in a larger font a little further up the plaque next to the Hayes statue.
- $5,000 Donation: Your name, family name, or business name (max 30 characters) will appear in the largest font size near the top of the plaque next to the Hayes statue.
- $10,000 Donation: The logo of your business will appear near the top of the plaque next to the Hayes statue.
Again, we want to thank Mr. Cottrill. He wants to see this happen and admires what Woody stood for just as much as we do. We'd also like to thank the donors who have already given to this project. We're beyond pumped to see Woody given the tribute he deserves in his hometown.
